Just 25 days until the first round of the NHL Entry Draft goes in New Jersey. The Senators are slated to pick 17th overall but the indications I'm getting right now, suggest that the Sens might be willing to move from that spot in the draft order.

Watching the way Bryan Murray and his staff have handled the draft the past few years, that should come as no surprise. We've seen them trade up (to grab Karlsson), add a pick (to grab Puempel) and even trade out of the first round altogether, as they did in 2010 when they grabbed Rundblad from St. Louis.

Working away on a post that will include a bit of Draft related info but in the meantime some interesting news from the NHL's Competition Committee.

Beginning next season, and pending approval from the Board of Governors, the NHL will begin testing out a few changes.  The first, will be the grandfathering in of visors across the league.  That means all new players will be required to wear a visor when they enter the league.

If I asked you who the highest paid player on the Ottawa Senators was next season, your first instinct would probably be to blurt out Jason Spezza or Erik Karlsson.

But because of the way his contract is structured, it will be the oft injured Milan Michalek that will earn the most money of any Senator next season.  And while is cap hit remains a fairly reasonable $4,333,333 per season, the five time 20 goal scorer will actually pull in a team high $6 million next season.  The team needs him to be healthy in 2013/2014.

Despite a disappointing lockout that washed away half the season, this 2013 season is one that fans of the Ottawa Senators won't soon forget.

The way this team pushed through adversity to make another surprising appearance in the NHL playoffs was nothing short of incredible. To add to that, the team won their first playoff round since the 2007 Stanley Cup run and over a division rival to boot. Although as we look back on another successful season, a few lingering questions remain.

Looking for a way to keep busy during the summer, stay fit, all while supporting a terrific cause? Well then the Sens Foundation Walk, Roll & Run Event in support of Roger’s House is the event for you.

The 10th edition of this terrific event will be held on Sunday, June 16, at Scotiabank Place. Senators forward Chris Neil and his wife Caitlin, the honorary chairs of Roger’s House, will participate in the event and are encouraging the community to get involved.

With last night’s dramatic Game Seven win by the Blackhawks at the Madhouse on Madison, the NHL’s Final Four is set.

And while it will be a treat watching the Hawks, Kings, Bruins and Penguins slug it out for a chance at the Stanley Cup, fans in Ottawa have already begun to turn their attention to the busy off season that lies ahead.  Incredibly, the NHL Entry Draft goes in New Jersey just one month from now.  The Ottawa Senators hold the 17th overall selection.

In speaking with the media this morning, Bryan Murray indicated that he has already made decisions on some of the team's unrestricted free agents.

It's a group that includes Daniel Alfredsson, Sergei Gonchar, Andre Benoit, Guillaume Latendresse, Peter Regin and Mike Lundin.  A quick scan of those names and you can quickly figure which ones likely do not figure into the organization's plans moving forward.

Yesterday, the Ottawa Senators officially said their good byes for the summer.

Because of the lockout and some lengthy second round series, there will barely be an off season this year.  The Stanley Cup will likely end sometime in late June and then all attention will turn towards the NHL Entry Draft, to be held in New Jersey on June 30th, 2013.

With the Eastern Conference final match up set, fans of the Ottawa Senators are left to look back on a fantastic year and look ahead to what should be an interesting off season.

This season, the Sens were able to sneak up and surprise some people. It's safe to say after the progress this team has seen the past two campaigns, expectations will be ramped up when this team takes the ice this fall. They'll be expected to compete for a playoff spot and make some noise when they get there.

Without overstating it, this really was the best season I have had as a fan of the Ottawa Senators.

And while many fans will quickly default to the Stanley Cup run,there was just something about this team that made this lockout shortened season extra special. Cheering for and blogging about the underdog Ottawa Senators team was the most thrilling, unexpected, delightful experience I've had as a sports fan.